Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi former PM and current VP, is suspected to be behind the violence that erupted between the protesters and the security forces during Saturday’s demonstrations in Baghdad, which resulted in the death of five people and wounding of around 200 others.

The followers of Sadrist Movement, led by the Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, on Saturday organized a large-scale demonstration in the center of Baghdad, demanding changes in the electoral commission and ending corruption in the Iraqi government.

The officials of the electoral commission of Iraq are believed to be affiliated with Maliki, thus he is endeavoring to block any reforms in the commission as he intends to take over the Iraqi PM’s position in the upcoming election.

Faiq Sheikh, member of the Iraqi parliamentary legal committee, stated Maliki has urged his supporters to blend into the crowd of the protesters and to open fire at the security forces to cite violence between the protesters and the security members.

The current electoral commission is in Maliki’s favour, Sheikh said, arguing that most of its staff members are working under his command.